Skip to main content
F
Franklin Fotang
Participant
October 4, 2021
Answered

Page numbering

  • October 4, 2021
  • 4 replies
  • 2397 views

I'm new to Adobe Indesign. Adding page numbers seems too complicated. Even the Adobe help couldn't help me. Can someone explain page numbering to me. 

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Barb Binder

Hi @Franklin Fotang:

 

  • Open the Pages panel from the Window menu.
  • Double click the name A-Master to navigate to the master pages.
  • Use the Type tool to draw a text frame wherever you want to place the first page number.
  • Insert the page number using Type > Insert Special Character > Markers > Current Page Number


Since you are the A-master, an A will appear. This will translate to a one on page 1, two on page 2, three on page 3, etc. If you're using facing pages be sure to repeat the process for the opposite master page.

 

~Barb

4 replies

R
Robin26807137mb03
Participant
October 26, 2022

I have followed these directions, but when I click markers (after the other steps) every option is grayed out. It's important for my documents to have page numbers, so can someone offer some advice?

jmlevy
Community Expert
jmlevyCommunity Expert
Community Expert
October 26, 2022

Do you have the text cursor in the frame where you want the page number to be ?

R
Robin26807137mb03
Participant
October 26, 2022
I AM A FOOL! That's exactly what the issue was! Thanks!
L
Community Expert
LaubenderCommunity Expert
Community Expert
March 2, 2022

Hi Johan,

from your screenshot I see that A-Mal in the section for parent pages of your Pages panel has only one single page.

That means that your document has no facing pages . As I understand your project is a novel of about 200 pages.

 

You say:

"1. I've written a 200 page novel to be published in epub format. …

2. However, two things are lacking: Page numbers at the bottom of every page and in the list of content."

 

Because you are doing a novel it's very likely that you will publish to a reflowing EPUB format where you need no page numbers on the pages at all. The readng device will provide them. The reading device and the reader's choice will decide over aspects like the size of the font, maybe even the font styles and the device's screen estate over the number of "pages".

 

You may want perhaps publish a fixed layout EPUB, then you'd need page numbers on every page for better reader experience. If you later like to do a print publish document you need a facing pages document where an even page is visible on the left side of the spine and an odd page is on the right side of the spine. Then of course you also need numbers on your pages.

 

So please specify what you mean with "to be published in epub format".

 

Thanks,
Uwe Laubender

( ACP )

J
Johan Ingvald23320771rbi1
Participating Frequently
March 3, 2022

Thanks, Uwe. this was very clarifying for me. Guess I'm too stuck in the between-cover-books in my thinking. Back to the drawing-board, as the saying goes, studying the reflowing EPUB format.

 

Thanks again,

Johan in Norway

L
Community Expert
LaubenderCommunity Expert
Community Expert
October 18, 2021

Hi Franklin,

just adding something to Barb's excellent answer:

 

"Insert the page number using Type > Insert Special Character > Markers > Current Page Number"

 

This also works with every text on every document page.

Not only on master pages that are applied to document pages.

 

Regards,
Uwe Laubender

( ACP )

Barb Binder
Community Expert
Barb BinderCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
October 4, 2021

Hi @Franklin Fotang:

 

  • Open the Pages panel from the Window menu.
  • Double click the name A-Master to navigate to the master pages.
  • Use the Type tool to draw a text frame wherever you want to place the first page number.
  • Insert the page number using Type > Insert Special Character > Markers > Current Page Number


Since you are the A-master, an A will appear. This will translate to a one on page 1, two on page 2, three on page 3, etc. If you're using facing pages be sure to repeat the process for the opposite master page.

 

~Barb

~Barb at Rocky Mountain Training
    J
    JoyceOdell
    Inspiring
    November 18, 2021

    I'm having a related problem. Quite some time ago, I set tmy page numbers to use the old-style figures. I suspect that it was a couple of versions ago, but it may not be a version problem.

     

    With the typeface that I am using for the page numbers, it seems to randomly use or not use the old-style figures. Most of the time everything is as I want it, and then for no good reason, I'll get a page, or a number of pages using the standard figures. Have you any idea of what is going on here?

     

    I am on a Mac, running Mojave. I am using InDesign 16.4, and the typeface which is giving me trouble is Corradine's BeCreative -- which is an OpenType face with a lot of varient number styles.

    Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
    Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices